Your Excuses for not Getting In Shape- Debunked

Everybody wants to look good but most people don’t want to put the work in that’s required to get there. That, in a nutshell, is why most of the population is in terrible shape. You may have what you feel like are legitimate reasons, but ultimately, they are excuses that keep you from reaching your goal. Every possible reason you have may, with persistence, be overcome. Let me help you sort these excuses out.

I don’t have time.

Yes you do. You have time for the things you want to have time for. You have time to get your hair done. You have time to shop online. You have time to peruse Facebook. You have time to run your mouth with your friends. So you do, in fact, have the time to workout and to prepare you meals. It’s called time management. Unless you’re working three jobs to make ends meet, there is enough time in your day to set aside for yourself. It might require sacrifices.

But if getting and being in shape is a priority for you, then you must choose to make the time to do it.

I have kids.

Lots of people have kids. And lots of women are still able to get to the gym and make fitness a priority. Does having kids who you have to take to school and to dance rehearsal and soccer practice make things harder? Absolutely. Does having kid food in your house like Oreos make disciplined eating tougher? Sure. But you can’t forgo your own health simply because you have children. Don’t you want to be healthy for your children? They want you to be able to run around with them. So instead of using them as an excuse, use them as motivation.

I want to enjoy my life.

My life is marvelous. My life is marvelous, even though I work out five days a week and don’t allow myself to eat and drink whatever I want all the time. In fact, I would say that my life is more incredible, because I do those things. I have more expendable income, because it’s not spent eating out twenty times a month. I feel beautiful when I get dressed to go out because my clothes fit the way they should and I don’t have to try on a hundred outfits. My confidence exudes through me and permeates throughout my life in my mood and the way I handle I stress. Yes, I make sacrifices, but not just to look good. I make those sacrifices because it makes my life better. I’m not sure why some of you have this mindset that if you can’t eat like a slob everyday then your life isn’t enjoyable. My life is plenty enjoyable without eating cake everyday and more enjoyable because I love the body that I live in.

I like to eat too much.

Who doesn’t like to eat? You like to eat the same amount that I like to eat. Food is a pleasurable experience. It’s not that you like to eat more than I do, it’s that you don’t have the willpower to say “no.” You don’t have the mindset that is required to care more about your body and your health than you do about chicken nuggets.

Your problem isn’t that you like food more than the rest of us, it’s that you value that instantaneous gratification of food more than looking in the mirror and being proud of what you see.

Or maybe, you’ve never had that feeling, so you are unaware of how overwhelmingly satisfying it can be. Also, I eat six times a day. I’m not hungry that often. I eat plenty of food. I choose to eat the right foods. You can do that too. If you don’t, it’s not because you like food too much, it’s because you are unwilling to choose your health as a priority.

It’s so hard.

No shit. Yes, it’s hard. Nothing worth having ever comes easily. If it’s too hard for you, then that is called laziness. It’s called you not caring enough. When you decide that looking and feeling your best matters to you more than martinis and cheesecake, then it won’t feel that hard anymore. It will be your life now. It will be the thing that keeps you happy and your life on track.

I don’t cook.

I don’t either. But I do own a crockpot, which requires me to take a bag of chicken, put it in the pot and turn it on. I’m telling you, it is a magical piece of equipment. The idea that you need to cook gourmet meals for yourself everyday to be successful is false. Eventually, I plan on having a personal chef who will do just that. But until then, I do just fine using a rice cooker, a crockpot, and a pan to sauté’ some vegetables. Also, protein shakes and Quest bars (in moderation) are as convenient as it gets. Spending a lot of time in the kitchen is not necessary and a poor excuse.

Why? Why are you waiting to start at some other point in time than right now? Everyday that passes is a day that you could have been that much closer to attaining your goal. It’s not going to be easier in a month. Your desire for pints of ice cream at night is not suddenly going to disappear come Monday. The only good reason I can think to wait is if your birthday is in two days or it’s December 25th. Otherwise, quit procrastinating and get going.

I’ve tried everything and nothing works.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but “it” works. You did not succeeed in properly implementing it. While some programs are certainly better than others, they almost all operate on the same basic concept, which is calorie restriction. You may not actually be counting calories on the South Beach Diet, but if you are following it properly, you are eating a calorie restricted diet. Now, unless you have an untreated medical condition like hypothyroidism, all these programs do and will work. The only way the particular program you’ve selected doesn’t work is in the case of your lack of consistency. Scenario one goes like this: You start your program for a few days. You make it somewhere between three and twelve days and because you don’t instantly have Erin Stern’s body, you decide it’s not working and quit.

It takes time people. It took you a while to get that chubby; it’s not going to melt off overnight. But if you consistently put in the work, day in and day out, and give it an adequate amount of time, it will work.

Scenario two goes like this: You do the program for a descent amount time, say a month or so, but you do a lot substitutions that you figure are ok, or you’re adding extra snacks and treats that aren’t supposed to be included. The handful of nuts may seem harmless, but your hand is actually pretty big and when you do that several times a day, you’re greatly increasing your caloric intake. So you quit, claiming that you’ve done it for so long and haven’t seen results. But you didn’t really do it. You did some it. You did your version of it. And if your version what the right way, you wouldn’t be in this out of shape predicament in the first place, right? Pick a program and stick with it. It will work.

My husband/family/partner isn’t supportive.

I will give it to you; this one does make reaching your goals incredibly difficult. Sitting next to your partner while he munches on popcorn at the movies can make you want to punch him or her. And when you’re struggling to stay on track, having a partner who routinely asks you to go to dinner or go for drinks can be very hard to decline. The best thing you can do is have a discussion with your significant other about how important this goal is to you and that their support would be very helpful in your success. If they can’t get on board, then your only option is to use their lack of support as fuel for your motivation. Show them your determination and resiliency and your ability to do the things in which you set your mind.

Leave the excuses behind, and make your health a top priority TODAY. There is no better time than the present. The rewards will be well worth the sacrifices.

“I wish I hadn’t buckled down and gotten this six-pack.”

– Said No One Ever.

Lea is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of BeyondThirty.net. She is a former professional dancer and IFBB fitness competitor, triathlete and all around fitness and beauty aficionado. Her passion is sharing her knowledge with women beyond the age of thirty, who are looking to continue to feel beautiful and fabulous.